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Glite Dictionary
rowlock arch

rowlock arch

9.9
An arch made of two or more rings of wedge-shaped stones
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : arco de hilera
  • Restoring the old bridge required rebuilding the damaged rowlock arch to match the original design.

Examples

  • The historic building features a decorative rowlock arch above its main entrance.

  • Masons carefully constructed the rowlock arch using alternating colors of brick for visual interest.

  • The ancient castle featured a stunning rowlock arch at its entrance.

  • Many rowlock arches can be seen in historical buildings.

  • The historic building features a decorative rowlock arch above its main entrance.

  • Restoring the old bridge required rebuilding the damaged rowlock arch to match the original design.

  • Masons carefully constructed the rowlock arch using alternating colors of brick for visual interest.

Surface Forms

rowlock arch singular
rowlock arches plural

Morphology

rowlock + arch

The modifier 'rowlock' is a low-frequency, specialized architectural term (not found in the provided dictionary) and does not transparently decompose into meanings a B1 learner would reliably infer, so the compound's sense cannot be deduced from its parts. Although 'arch' is transparent, the opaque, technical nature of 'rowlock' means the overall expression requires prior exposure or domain knowledge.

Etymology

Rowlock arch comes from the way its stones are placed: several rings of stones sit one inside another like slices of a pie. The words row and lock point to rows of stones that 'lock' together to make a strong curved opening, so the name describes an arch made of more than one locked row of stones.